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Ashes of Devotion [ATLA - Azula x OC]

Reader mode
Abhorsen said:
Honestly, I think it's worth a repost on sb/sv/ts/ao3. It's not NSFW yet.
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I'm posting it on ao3 as well, I don't know the others. It probably won't be NSFW, I'm quite new at writing and I also do not consume NSFW content, so I really am clueless at how to do that in the first place. But thank you :)
 
Lucernello said:
I'm posting it on ao3 as well, I don't know the others. It probably won't be NSFW, I'm quite new at writing and I also do not consume NSFW content, so I really am clueless at how to do that in the first place. But thank you :)
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Yeah, Spacebattles is the biggest forum for fics, as much as I dislike their mods. Especially for SFW stuff.
 
Chapter 14 - It's Electric New
AN: Hello. Merry Christmas! Sorry about the delay again, celebrated too hard and was not able to write a lot this week. Fridays are turning into Sundays it seems, but I will try my best to catch up this week.

I hope you had a lovely time with your loved ones,
Luce​

Edit: Corrections added.
​

98 A.G

Recovery had been fast enough overall, which was the only way Lin ever tolerated it. Her replacement limbs had already been fitted, calibrated, and reinforced. There was still some lingering damage, a bit of strain from the duel still beneath her skin, but her movement had returned to a level she considered acceptable.

She could still feel a bit of pain here and there, but it no longer interfered with her duties, which meant back to work. She spent the early hours of the morning in the training grounds, stretching and testing her balance, noting minor resistance in her right shoulder joint and a slower response in the lower joints of her left leg, even though her chi was flowing correctly.

She mentally flagged both for later adjustment once she returned to the family manor. Lin didn't want to remain in the palace infirmary any longer; it was quite uncomfortable, and the healers didn't know how to help her either.

Still, she was content overall either way. Her demonstration had achieved its purpose, perhaps more thoroughly than she had anticipated. The Fire Lord had seen with his own eyes that the princess no longer required further instruction, and that she was ready to challenge any firebending master.

Lin had no doubts that Azula's training was effectively complete; even if she could still improve with time and experience, Lin was not really needed for that. Now, there was only one more lesson to complete, and she would finally be free.

Lightning generation was not a skill she had ever planned to teach, but the theory was familiar, and Azula was capable enough to handle it. The skill was mostly theoretical for her and required emotional control more than anything else. Lin expected the princess to grasp it quickly with her control over her emotions.

Lin was not stupid; she knew the young royal had perfect control over her emotions, often using them to manipulate and gain an advantage over the people around her. It was a perfect strategy, and one Lin admired in the young princess.

Still, she couldn't deny feeling a sense of quiet relief knowing there was only one more lesson to give. With her obligation to the princess nearing its end, she could finally return to the front. Once the lesson was complete, there would be no justification left to delay her departure.

Her unit needed her, and she had no intention of allowing another campaign to unfold like it had previously under Colonel Xin's command. The south had already proven how costly mismanagement could be.

Before that, however, she had ensured that her return would bring relief to her soldiers. Nearly every coin she possessed had been spent over the past month, supplemented by loans pulled from her family, mainly her father, that she would repay later.

The newer rifle iterations were already complete, with added reliability and ease of maintenance. She also acquired a limited number of cannons that had been finished alongside them.

Smaller, lighter, and easier to transport than the first models, they were designed to be integrated directly into infantry formations rather than treated as siege tools. She had arranged for the shipment to follow her the moment she was cleared to leave the capital.

Now, her main concern was not the weapons themselves but who would carry them. The Fire Nation military still viewed non-benders as auxiliary support at best, and expendable labor at worst, so she didn't think she would have problems recruiting, adding them to her expanded company.

Although Lin had no patience for that thinking, it was a very common occurrence in the Fire Nation Army. For Lin, skill and discipline mattered more than talent or the ability to throw a fireball. She had seen enough men die because of arrogance and conservative thinking.

If she could equip non-benders with firearms and train them extensively, the battlefield would shift in their favor, and even the generals would have to see the value they had. Lin intended to change that quietly, by selecting candidates herself once she returned to the field.

She was obviously correct in assuming recruitment wouldn't be difficult. Non-benders rarely received opportunities beyond basic service unless they distinguished themselves through extraordinary means, as Master Piandao had done. Now she just needed to find good candidates among the so many available.

Lost in her thoughts, Lin didn't realize she was already at the training grounds. The familiar space felt almost routine now, despite everything that had occurred there. She flexed her fingers once, feeling the smooth response of the mechanisms beneath the metal prosthetic, then allowed herself a single steady breath.

It was time for the princess to go electric.
​

War Minister Qin had been awake since before dawn, though the reason had little to do with anything stressful; he was simply too excited to sit still. The stack of schematics spread across his desk represented weeks of correspondence, revisions, and hurried calculations, and for once he felt that familiar pull of progress rather than frustration.

Captain Lin's designs were not complete in the way traditional blueprints were, but they were clear enough that his engineers could study them and make them work as she had explained they were supposed to.

The newest concept bore a simple name, one the captain had chosen without much creativity: 'Cartridge Ammunition'. She had explained it patiently, tracing its purpose through better accuracy, greater round velocity, improved penetration, and faster cycling between rounds.

Unlike the pellets used in their first models, this design relied on a sealed projectile that traveled farther, struck harder, and behaved predictably. Qin had immediately understood the implications, of course; it was the mind of a genius at work, and he counted himself among them.

It gave the opportunity, with enough training, for even an average soldier to strike a target well beyond firebending range. The issue lay in figuring out how to make a weapon that could fire that cartridge by striking a specific point and priming the ignition within the ammunition.

She had also pressed him to think beyond small weapons or rifles. Firearms were only the first step for her, of course, a young woman after his own heart. The real shift came when the same principle was scaled, when the cartridge was big enough to propel heavier projectiles across extreme distances.

Artillery, she had called it, describing weapons so large they would require entire crews to operate, yet capable of striking enemy formations or fortifications from kilometers away. The idea unsettled and excited him in equal measure.

Qin had absolutely no idea where the name came from, but when he questioned the girl, she had only said 'Old Freanch people' as if he knew what she meant, dismissing his attempt to understand where the name came from entirely.

The inner workings for both weapons were still incomplete, and the young captain didn't seem to have the answers for that either. She had admitted freely that she did not know how to solve every mechanical challenge involved, only that the outcome was possible.

That honesty was part of why Qin trusted her instincts. She understood her limits, and she knew when to hand a problem to someone better suited to solve it. If only more people had the acumen to delegate correctly.

He had already made one decision because of her influence. The drilling apparatus meant to breach the walls of Ba Sing Se had been shelved indefinitely. The cost was deemed too high even for her standards, and she had argued that the deployment was too risky and could be ambushed on the way to the wall.

The chances of failure were unacceptable with the amount of resources it would eat up. Artillery offered a different path to a similar result if they could produce it in numbers. Rather than relying on a single massive machine, they could field many weapons, each cheaper to construct and easier to replace.

The theory was that instead of attacking a single point, they would saturate the wall with so many impacts that the earthbenders wouldn't know where to go or what to repair first. The only issue would be logistical, to carry that amount of ammunition and weapons within a range of five to six kilometers from the city.

Another project lay open beside him, marked with annotations in several hands. The air force initiative had advanced further than he had dared to hope. Through Lin's connections, his team had begun corresponding with the 'Mechanist' in the Northern Air Temple.

Together they were refining gliding machines designed to be piloted by firebenders, lighter and faster than anything previously attempted. Firebending would provide thrust and maneuverability, eliminating the need for heavy machinery systems.

Qin imagined them streaking across the sky, difficult to target and capable of rapid deployment. If both projects came to fruition as envisioned, then taking the Earth Kingdom's capital would be fast approaching.

The pace was exhausting, but he was thrilled to have so many new projects to work on. He was also excited for the future innovations that the young captain, and soldiers like her, would bring to the table in the years to come.

For decades, progress had been slow, conditioned by their resources and needs through the long war. Now, ideas were flowing, one advancement feeding the next and the old families finally giving their own resources willingly to advance the research.

The young captain was truly spirit-sent, and with her ideas, the Fire Nation would dominate the world once and for all. Qin only wished he would live long enough to see her grow into her full potential.

For now, though, there was too much to do. He steadied his thoughts, focused on the task at hand and carried on with his work.
​

Azula had been listening to Lin explain the technique for several days now, and she was beginning to understand why the lesson required so much patience. Lightning generation didn't seem to require firebending at all.

They began with the katas, which, at first glance, seemed pointless. The movements were wide and slow, their transitions exaggerated, and the stance completely different from regular firebending forms.

Azula had questioned them silently while performing each circular motion, noting how little they resembled combat forms or even advanced techniques she had been learning over the past months.

Lin had corrected the stance and movements a few times, but they didn't change at all, and there was not much complexity to begin with, so she had already mastered them quite easily by the second day.

It was only after the third day that Lin explained the technique in more detail. There was no room for anger to fuel it; it required total control of her emotions, as well as balancing her chi along the different movements of the technique.

Firebending, as Azula understood it, relied on drawing chi forward and outward, converting it directly into heat and flames. Lightning required breaking apart that flow instead. Lin described it as bending the flow of chi into two distinct streams, one negative and the other positive, pulling them away from each other in a circular motion.

The space between them created tension, and when that tension grew too strong for the air to contain, the movements would draw them together and discharge as lightning. Lin helped her feel each stream and how to direct them.

Negative chi, Lin explained, felt sharp and cold, almost brittle when held too tightly. Positive chi carried warmth and expansion, the familiar sensation Azula had known since childhood. The challenge lay in keeping them apart without allowing either to overwhelm the other. If the balance failed, the energy collapsed into an explosion.

Azula practiced identifying the difference during the katas, isolating each sensation as Lin guided her through, reminding her to control her breathing. At first, the distinction was faint, difficult to separate from the natural flow of bending. Over time, it became clearer, and she learned to hold each charge without letting them mix, doing her best to keep the flow from her chest.

Azula held the final position longer than instructed, her arms relaxing a bit as she committed to memory what it felt like. Her focus narrowed, and before releasing the stance, she spoke, her voice calm but curious.

"Why do you know this if you've never used it?"

Lin did not answer immediately, studying her for a moment.

"My ancestors were there when the technique was rediscovered." she said, "Every generation learns it so the knowledge doesn't disappear."

Azula frowned slightly. "But you don't practice it."

"No… No one from my family does." Lin replied. "We are not allowed to, only the Royal Family now holds that privilege."

She tapped her own metal forearm lightly, the sound dull but unmistakable.

"Also, if you take a good look at me, princess, my body has too many metal parts interacting between each other, with this much conductive material, it would disrupt the flow completely and the discharge would pass through my body."

Azula absorbed that in silence, then nodded once. "So you were trained to hold onto the knowledge, not use it."

"That is usually how techniques like these survive, especially when they are dangerous and only a few firebenders can actually perform the feat." Lin said, her tone even. "By being passed on carefully, we make sure that at least it will remain in the Fire Nation's arsenal."

Lin paused for a second, contemplating if she should continue voicing her thoughts.

"Almost four hundred years ago, the technique was supposedly lost, and the only known lightning user died at the hands of Avatar Kyoshi. Luckily, the Earth Kingdom had tortured that person extensively before he was freed. He was a bandit at the time, and the Earth Kingdom's ruler had allies in the Fire Nation to whom he later sent that information. Alongside the Royal family, the Renshi household helped in rediscovering the technique and everyone present had decided to keep it a secret from the Avatar." Lin continued to explain.

"Ugh… This turned into a history lesson." Azula said, while scoffing.

"I knew that one was coming…" Lin chuckled softly. "The point is, there are other families who know the technique, they are not allowed to use it."

Azula nodded and continued her training. They had finished another round of katas when Lin stopped her.

"You have already identified the flows you need, and memorized the movements. This time, you will push more chi into the flow as if you were about to firebend."

Azula complied, starting the movements again, forcing her chi to split into the two flows she had previously felt. Then a cracking sound came from her arms, and the sensation was unmistakable: a sharp pressure between her palms, accompanied by a faint tingling that traveled up her arms.

Her breath caught as blue light flickered briefly between her fingers. Startled, she nearly lost control of it.

Lin's voice cut through the moment, calm and immediate. "Keep the flows separated, let it rest, and steady your breathing, princess."

Azula obeyed, forcing her body to remain still while the unfamiliar energy eased up.

"Let's try that again." Lin said.

This time, Azula guided the separation consciously, allowing the tension to keep building this time, following the movement through. The light returned, brighter now, accompanied by a low crackling sound that vibrated against her skin.

When she completed the kata as instructed, she knew she needed to release the discharge now. Both her arms were together and she could feel the tension in the middle. Pointing her two fingers upwards, she directed the flow away from the ground and let the tension discharge. The lightning erupted skyward in a sudden flash, followed by a thunderous crack that echoed across the training grounds.

Azula stood frozen for a moment, heart racing as her body was still feeling the cold fire's presence. Her arms tingled, and her nerves felt alive with a sensation she had never experienced before.

Lin stepped beside her, watching the dissipating energy with visible satisfaction. She was smiling, a rare expression on the young captain. Azula was beginning to appreciate it even more than compliments or the praise of her father.

It was a thrilling sensation, and she felt exhilarated. She understood immediately how devastating the technique could be if used correctly.

"Nicely done, my princess. You will master cold fire in no time." Lin said, softly. "Now we just need to do a few repetitions and once you have the consistency down, we will begin to increase the pace of the movements, see if you can generate it faster."

Well, if there was one thing her instructor had, it was faith in her abilities. Still, Azula accepted the assessment without frustration. She was accustomed to aiming for perfection and knew she wouldn't falter before achieving it.

"You will have to find a way to increase the tension with more control and push more chi into it." Lin said, wondering aloud.

"It could potentially cause an explosion, you know?" the princess said, looking ahead toward where the lightning disappeared.

"Don't worry, I will not leave your side. Besides, I trust in your instincts."

Azula wondered if there was even anything the young woman feared. Clearly death or injury was not something that rattled her at all. She glanced at Lin again, noting the satisfaction she did not bother to hide.

Azula decided then that she intended to see that expression more often.
​

Lin left the training grounds with a lightness she had not felt in months. The lesson had gone better than she expected; she really ought to stop being surprised at how quickly Azula could understand the mechanics behind a skill or technique; she truly was the prodigy of the decade.

Lightning generation was truly a display of power and individual strength; it required emotional discipline, calm, and an internal awareness that Lin was sure not many would be able to achieve. To be able to grasp that skill so young was truly marvelous.

Still, what truly mattered to Lin was that she was starting to see her role as an instructor finally ending. The thought brought relief more than anything else, and she hoped Colonel Xin wouldn't do anything crazy until her return.

These past eighteen months had been quite boring in comparison to the previous two years in service. She had fulfilled her obligation, trained the princess to a level that exceeded any reasonable expectation, and now, in a few weeks, she would complete the last requested instruction.

There was nothing left that required her presence in the palace anymore. The research and weapons development with the war minister could continue by correspondence and her father could even explain some of her ideas that she hadn't discussed with him yet.

Speaking of which, when she saw the princess generate lightning for the first time, she had a revelation. Electricity was no longer an abstract idea she couldn't explain. Watching Azula generate lightning firsthand reinforced the possibility she had been circling for months.

Having the concept of electricity and the idea of harnessing it into a battery could potentially lead to improved machinery and better technology overall. If chi could be separated, held, and discharged reliably, then it could be studied.

It would provide a commodity she was really missing in this life. Lin understood her own limitations well enough to avoid pretending she had answers she did not. She knew only fragments she vaguely remembered from school and her brief time in the academy.

A battery required two substances with opposing charges, a medium that allowed a circuit to have a connection, and a way to prevent immediate discharge. She knew certain metals reacted differently to energy, and she knew lithium had properties that made it useful for batteries but not exactly how it worked or where to obtain it.

Trying to explain how she knew of a material she had never seen, with a name they likely had never heard, would sound crazy to anyone. But luckily, it was not her job to work that out, so she stopped worrying about it.

Still, having Azula as a living example of controlled electrical discharge changed everything. Her engineers would no longer be theorizing in isolation. They could observe, record, and test. Even failed attempts could provide information.

Lin had seen enough innovations in her short previous life to understand that progress rarely came from success alone. So she knew that it would take its time, and electricity as she knew it would have to wait a bit longer.

She had other priorities as well; she needed to return to the front. The south that she had worked hard to secure was threatened now, and her unit had already been stretched thin recovering from their wounds.

They needed her oversight and she hoped she could push for a promotion as a colonel or commander to take care of all the troops stranded in the south. She had no intention of allowing them to fail and be pushed to the sea.

The weapons she had commissioned were already en route, accompanied by instructions she had written herself. The set of rifles and cannons would give firepower back to her soldiers and most had already been tested as well.

Recruitment had already begun and Lin had identified several battalions where non-benders had been commended by their peers, as well as a few that had been sidelined or ignored entirely. Those soldiers would not be difficult to motivate for better pay or a chance of advancing their military career. Opportunity was often more powerful than loyalty.

As she walked through the palace corridors for what she hoped would be one of the last times, Lin allowed herself a moment to consider what she had achieved so far. The princess was stronger.

The Fire Nation's arsenal had expanded beyond their own imagination. The groundwork for a research and development department had been laid, and her connections to the Royal family and inner circle had given her family prestige.

Lin had truly excelled at her objectives, her family should be proud. She had even made a friend, or at least she hoped the princess would see her as such. Lin liked the princess and she could admit, Azula had grown on her.

She truly appreciated her drive and dedication. Teaching her had been easy, as she poured all of her attention into her lessons without Lin demanding it. She was also fun to be around and her friends were nice.

Lin straightened her posture as she approached her quarters. She would have to come up with a professional way to request a promotion, but she was confident it would work fine for her. If it didn't work and was denied, she could still challenge Colonel Xin to a duel to the death and take command by force.

It would even be justified, given his failure to take proper care of her men.​
 
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Now to see if Azula learns of Lin's plan to return to the front before or after she actually leaves.
Can see her joining for experience either way, but think she would be way more pissed if told about Lin being gone already rather than just preparing.
 
Sharker117 said:
Now to see if Azula learns of Lin's plan to return to the front before or after she actually leaves.
Can see her joining for experience either way, but think she would be way more pissed if told about Lin being gone already rather than just preparing.
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I can totally see the young princess throw a temper tantrum just because Lin is leaving, now… imagining how she would get if she knows only when Lin already left well... I fear for the one who delivers that message
 
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Chapter 15 - Silly Weather New
AN: Happy new Year, I hope you had a lovely time with your loved ones and that you can start your year awesomely.

Also, happy for my Venezuelean friends,
Luce
​

98 A.G

Lin remained where she was for a moment, watching Princess Azula storm away across the training grounds with a speed and anger that caught her off guard. The young royal walked fast, and if it weren't unbecoming of her, she would be spitting fire as she headed inside the palace, no doubt intent on confronting her father.

Lin did not follow her, although the thought did cross her mind. She had already said her goodbyes and explained the reassignment clearly. From Lin's perspective, the matter had already concluded, but instead of voicing pleasantries or parting words, Azula had questioned the reassignment, furiously.

She did not understand where the anger came from. There was nothing more, realistically, that she could teach her. The princess had reached a level that surpassed most masters twice her age, and any remaining growth would come from experience rather than through her instruction.

Lin had been as harsh as she could throughout her lessons, forcing the young royal to keep a fast-paced apprenticeship. Anyone else would be glad it was over, but it seemed the princess was not happy at all, which was not something Lin knew how to address.

"I still don't know what is going on inside her head." she muttered.

She turned away from the training grounds and headed for her quarters without a second thought. Her belongings were already packed. She had a small kit assembled with a few essentials, ammunition, and some of the tools she used for maintenance of her body.

She had no attachment to the capital city, she realized as she kept walking, exiting the palace. Yes she felt close with the princess and could admit she would miss her, for certain; but she also missed her unit. She couldn't abandon them in their time of need, and there was nothing in the city that made her want to stay.

From there, she passed through the city streets at a steady pace, moving beyond the inner districts and through Azulon's gates toward the harbor. The sounds of the capital faded behind her, replaced by the salt air and the creak of ships preparing to depart.

Soon she would be back to something she was more familiar with, and the stress of the city and the politics her father made her play would be left behind at last. Still, she could see the appeal of having connections, and they had proven useful indeed.

Her promotion had been approved by the council of generals and even the Fire Lord himself. In fact, the paperwork had already been in motion before she had formally requested the promotion. Upon reaching the southern peninsula, she would assume command of the entire southern theater.

Her objectives were Gaoling, the Shen Guan outpost, and Omashu. It was a big task to look forward to, but bringing more firepower and having authority extended to naval assets was worth it. She really believed she could achieve them; she just hoped the Red Company had recovered by her return.

She was not worried about it though, even if they needed more time, they had enough to conclude the campaign. Lin could see how, by having control of the south, the Fire Nation could stabilize its holdings without interference from the Earth Kingdom at all.

The Si Wong Desert remained an effective barrier, and supply lines could be consolidated without risk of large-scale counteroffensives. From there, the path toward Ba Sing Se became clearer, both militarily and logistically.

As she approached the ship, Lin noted the crates being loaded onto the deck, each one marked with her designs. Rifles, ammunition, and the smaller infantry cannons were secured carefully, treated as if they had the words 'Fragile' written all over them.

Nearby, the recruits she had selected stood in formation, already waiting for her arrival. Their posture was disciplined and intimidating, which gave her a sense of confidence in these recruits. She studied them briefly, satisfied with what she saw.

Without another glance back toward the palace, Lin boarded the ship and prepared to depart, ready to return to the front and go back to where she belonged.
​

The first days at sea passed without incident; the waters were calm enough that Lin almost allowed herself to believe the journey south would be uneventful. The wind was steady, the sky mostly clear, and the ship moved without any issues. So much so that she was able to practice and exercise with her new recruits with no interruptions.

She took advantage of those conditions immediately, keeping the recruits occupied from dawn until dusk, rotating them through weapons handling, squad tactics, and target practice with their new weapons. Of course, they couldn't waste that much ammunition, so the last one was limited.

They were learning quickly. Most had never held a firearm before, yet their discipline translated well to training, and Lin found that this batch of recruits she had managed to procure made great soldiers.

Commander Lin went looking for copper and found gold. Her lessons consisted of correcting grips, posture, and reload procedures repeatedly. She was trying to ease them into it; those movements needed to be done as if it were muscle memory. She hoped with that training, when it truly mattered, they would be fast but composed when faced with danger.

By the second week, though, the sea began to change. The horizon's light dimmed first; dark, heavy clouds were approaching fast, covering the sun faster than the speed of their ship. The navigator reported a developing storm moving in from the southeast, its path broad enough that outrunning it would be difficult.

Lin cursed the absence of any reliable technology to predict weather patterns beyond experience and instinct. She really needed a few weather balloons for the future. Lin ordered the crew to secure loose cargo and brace the rigging.

As the rain began to fall, she redirected the ship further south, hoping to skirt the edge of the storm. She hoped she could keep her crew safe by doing this. The farther they sailed, though, the more the waters began to swell, waves rolling in uneven patterns as the Mo Ce Sea gave way to the southern sea currents.

By nightfall, the storm had grown violent; the ship pitched heavily and rain lashed the deck hard enough to hurt. Lin remained on deck despite the conditions, shouting orders over the wind and keeping the crew focused. Panic had no place on a vessel in open water, and she would not allow it to appear on her trained men.

Once everything was secured enough, she ordered everyone below deck and moved towards the cruiser watchtower. When the waves began to crest high enough to threaten the rails, she turned to the navigator again.

"Find us the closest landmass and plot a course there, now!" she said.

"Right away, Commander!" he answered as he scrambled to keep the map steady.

"Lieutenant, keep my ship afloat. Do not let waves crash into our sides." Lin continued to give orders.

"Commander, I believe Kyoshi Island is the closest landmass we can reach before the storm worsens." the navigator said.

She thought the option through for a few seconds. Kyoshi Island had been a neutral territory for years; it governed itself and avoided entanglement with the wider war. But they had no intel whatsoever on what they could find. Still, if the ship could not outrun the storm, then landfall was the safer option.

"Guide us there, then. I will take the wheel." She said, giving no room for discussion.

The Lieutenant gave way for her and she took control of the rudder. They altered course at once, the navigator using a compass and a few other sets of instruments to guide her through the waves toward the island.

The island came into view not long after, through the rain, a dark silhouette against the roiling sea, and Lin felt a brief sense of relief as the distance closed. But clearly she should have expected the worst, because there was always something worse.

The water ahead surged unnaturally, a sudden rise that exposed a serpent- or eel-like beast standing close to the ship. Lin recognized the danger in a heartbeat; it was clearly a predator and she needed to do something or it could damage the ship.

"Oh god, it's an Unagi!" screamed the navigator, eyes wide with fear.

The Unagi surfaced with terrifying speed, its massive form breaking through the water as if there were no storm at all to defy. The creature's roar cut through the wind and rain, deep and resonant, and a jet of water slammed into the ship's side with enough force to stagger the deck.

Amidst the panic of her crew and the fear she could see in their faces, she hesitated no longer and sprang into action, opening a window and jumping from the watchtower, hitting the deck, slowing her descent with a fireblast.

Commander Lin assessed the threat of the giant eel, then launched herself from the deck in a burst of fire, rising above the wave as another jet of water from the Unagi tore through the space she had just occupied.

The rain soaked her instantly, but the heat of her bending kept her airborne long enough to look for a weakness mid-air. The Unagi reared again, its eyes visible even through the storm. But Lin didn't let it throw another jet of water toward her.

Twin bursts of concentrated flame cut through the rain, aimed directly at the creature's eyes. The beast recoiled as the fire connected, a sharp cry echoing across the water. Lin adjusted midair, firing again and again, targeting the eyes until the Unagi thrashed violently and submerged, retreating below the waves rather than pressing the attack on their ship.

Her descent was less controlled than her ascent, the storm making fine adjustments impossible. She fell hard and couldn't stop her body from hitting the deck with enough force to knock the air out of her momentarily.

She still managed to catch onto the edge of the deck with one arm before her momentum dragged her further down. Two crew members came rushing to help her immediately, as they were witnessing everything through a holed floor-gate, gripping her and hauling her back onto the deck of the ship, then grabbing her by the shoulders and guiding her below deck to recover.

She nodded to them once, acknowledging their quick reaction, then turned her attention back to what she could see through the small gaps. The Unagi didn't seem keen to resurface or continue the attack.

The ship pressed on toward the island, a bit battered maybe, but intact. Once Lin managed to recover and go back to the watchtower, she ordered the crew to maintain course and remain alert until landfall was secured.

The storm continued to rage around them. Fortunately, the people who designed the ship had really taken into account such an outcome, for the ship was holding without issues so far.

As Kyoshi Island drew closer, Lin was in control of the rudder once more, directing the ship to dock as close as possible.
​

The rain had settled into a steady downpour by the time Suki reached the western edge of the village; her sandals already soaked through as she helped secure the last of the shutters along the outer homes.

The storm had arrived faster than they anticipated. The southern winds were cold, and the rain poured angrily. It was not the worst weather Kyoshi Island had seen, but the population of the village consisted mostly of old people now, so they had to help secure their homes.

She moved alongside the other warriors from home to home, tightening rope, reinforcing beams, and checking that every door and window was properly barred. As their newly named leader, she felt responsible for protecting the entire village. Still, every warrior in her village probably felt the same and they wouldn't run from their duties.

Once the last house was secured, she signaled for the group to regroup near the central path of the village, by the Kyoshi wooden statue. The rain blurred the horizon, and the sea beyond the beach churned with restless movement; she could hear the waves crashing against the rocks even from this distance.

They were about to leave and return to the town hall when Suki spotted something moving out in the distance. At first, it was only a silhouette, dark and angular against the grey of the storm, barely visible through the curtain of rain.

As she kept staring at it, she realized what it was. A ship sat close to the shoreline, its hull tilted awkwardly as if it had nearly run aground. Suki's breath caught as she realized that the metal vessel could only belong to the Fire Nation. They had seen them on the horizon when fishing; sometimes they would cross the South Sea and never bother to stop at their island.

"What is that?" muttered one of the other girls beside her, and her warriors turned to look as well.

Suki straightened immediately, her mind racing through the little training she had for a situation like this. They had been unbothered until now, but they knew the Fire Nation could arrive at any time.

"That is a Fire Nation ship; this could be an invasion. Gather everyone missing, Hui, let the elders know, quickly!" She raised her voice over the rain.

As Hui ran, Suki made sure everyone else was prepared to intercept them before the ship's crew could advance inland. They could try to ambush them depending on how many there were; they would have the element of surprise.

"What is the plan, Suki?" asked Hui when she returned.

"We should move quickly and ambush them as they move through the trees. Depends on how many they brought, but if we can ambush them, group by group, it would stop them. If we can capture some of them, we could take them as hostages and leverage them to make them leave."

Her warriors nodded, determination clear on their faces. With a plan already in motion, they were about to head out when they spotted a single blank-and-red spot figure already clearing the trees towards the village.

Just beyond the edge of the forest, a young woman walked, no older than Suki herself by appearance, her black-and-red armor displaying her allegiance. On her arms, the girl seemed to have reinforced metal armor with small spikes on the side.

Suki felt disgusted by her attire, which was clearly made to intimidate. The girl walked alone, as she seemed to notice them, her hands clasped behind her back. Her black boots kept moving forward. As she kept approaching, Suki could see that her hair was streaked in shades she had never seen before, ashen white and black mingling beneath the storm clouds.

Suki felt an uneasy coil in her chest; the girl looked almost bored, as if they were not a threat at all, she had no fighting stance, clearly already decided that she could just walk in this place and take it without anyone saying anything.

The soldier stopped a short distance away, her expression calm and her gaze steady. The girl began speaking just then. "Greetings. I'm Commander Lin of the Fire Na-"

But Suki was not going to let her finish their demands for surrender. "Attack!" She gave the order, and along with her warriors, surged forward together, fans snapping open as they closed the distance, intending to overwhelm the intruder before she could react. If they were not going to be taken seriously, it was not their fault they didn't expect a surprise attack.

But it seemed that was not the right decision. The soldier's demeanor shifted in an instant, her body moving with a speed that defied logic and Suki had to shield herself as fire erupted from her fist towards her, which she had to block with her fans.

The girl spun, her metal limbs striking with deadly accuracy and force, sending two of Suki's warriors flying backward through the rain before she had even registered the motion. They hit the ground hard, sliding across the wet surface and lying still, clutching their stomachs.

Suki charged furiously at her, attacking with all of her might, the rest of the warriors were coming to help her as well. She aimed for her neck, blades flashing as she pressed the attack with everything she had. But the strikes didn't land where they were supposed to.

The sound that echoed was wrong, metal ringing against metal rather than flesh. The girl absorbed the blows with her armor, her arms catching each strike as if they weighed nothing. She had hoped the armor on her arms would slow her down, but they moved like regular limbs without issues.

Before Suki could adjust, a series of blows drove into her ribs and shoulders, knocking the breath from her lungs and sending her crashing to the ground. Pain flared as she tried to rise, her limbs slow to respond.

She looked around and saw that two more warriors were left on the ground, only Hui remained standing, panting heavily. Suki looked up just as the rain around them seemed to glow with an eerie orange hue.

The soldier stood beside her now with one of her hands raised. A small sphere of fire formed in her palm, burning intensely bright, it was even emitting a sharp whistling sound that cut through the storm. The metal limb holding it glowed red, heat radiating outward as steam rose where rain was evaporated by it.

The soldier spoke again, her voice cold and collected. "Stand down now or die."

Suki's heart pounded as she looked at her face. Golden eyes looked at her with equal parts anger and indifference, and in that moment she knew that the girl was not bluffing, she would kill her without a second thought.

Her body shivered in fear.
​

Lin stood amid the rain with her arm still raised, the fireball in her palm feeding off her chi, as steam curled around her metal limb and drifted outward in a low haze. The storm continued to pound the village, but she could ignore it easily as the adrenaline of the fight still lingered in her body.

She could hear the uneven breathing of the warriors on the ground and the shallow gasps of the one still standing. They really were not prepared for war; they were sloppy, the only real danger being their coordination, but even that had tumbled once the first few started to fall.

Lin was furious beneath her composure, and she was having trouble controlling herself. She had not come to Kyoshi Island seeking conflict; it was not even her intention to arrive at this destination in the first place.

The storm had forced her hand, and the attack that followed had removed any remaining patience she had left. Neutral territory or not, there was no excuse for striking first without even attempting to listen! And the worst thing about it was that she should have expected it, given the Earth Kingdom's stubborn refusal to see reason.

Maybe what set her off more than anything was these wannabees who thought they could take her on, dressed like samurai of old, using weapons not fit for combat. A fan? Really? Assaulted by a bunch of painted clowns, she felt insulted above all.

She extended her arm to the sky and released the compressed chi to the air. A roar of flames erupted from her arm, swallowing the rain and forming a small fog around her as it evaporated the water on top of her.

Finally, the flames vanished, having consumed the charged chi, and she took a moment to assess their reaction. Her gaze moved over the fallen warriors, and they were frightened by the display alright. She quickly assessed their injuries and confirmed that none of them were dead or heavily injured which was ideal for negotiating.

She turned her attention to the girl in front of her, now kneeling and recovering her breath. She had given the order to attack; this was clearly the leader as all other soldiers were looking to her, expecting the next set of orders. She had fire behind her eyes despite her fear, but it was clear she didn't think she could win this fight; it was time to press on.

"This was supposed to be a neutral island. I did not come here to fight…" she paused for a second for dramatic effect "But… if you do not surrender, I will burn the entire place to the ground." Lin said, her voice dripping with venom, heard clearly despite the rain.

The girl seemed to be gathering herself and catching her breath. Lin waited, though she really wanted her to try anything so that she would have an outlet for her fury and frustration.

"We will surrender." she finally said, throwing her fans to the ground. The remaining warrior flinched, and the sound of metal fans hitting wet ground followed moments later as the others obeyed the silent order to disarm.

"Good. Next time, please let the other party talk before attacking someone you are not prepared to deal with." Lin said. "Now… introductions are in order. I'm Commander Lin of the Fire Nation, who are you?"

"I'm Suki… Leader of the Kyoshi Warriors of this village." Suki replied.

"Do you answer for your whole village, Warrior Suki?" Lin asked.

"No…" she answered slowly. "The elders are the ones who decide for the entire village."

"Great, now we can head somewhere. Please inform your elders that my ship will remain close to the shore until the storm passes. We require repairs, and we are willing to trade for water if you have a functioning well. That is the extent of my interest in this island." Lin said with disdain.

"Suffice to say, I really hope you don't try anything funny here." Lin said, gesturing toward the shoreline with a slight tilt of her head, "I obviously did not come alone, but I did not expect a confrontation. Still, I have fifty armed soldiers waiting at the beach. They are trained, equipped, and prepared to act. Do not force me to make your village disappear."

The rain intensified briefly, drumming against rooftops and pooling at their feet. Lin wondered for a few seconds what their responses would be.

Their leader finally spoke, her voice strained but steady enough. "I understand, we apologize." she said.

Lin watched them carefully then nodded and settled into a relaxed stance again, which prompted both girls who were still standing to scramble to assist the injured.

"In the eyes of the Fire Nation, you are civilians." she said, her tone shifting to a more calm and composed one. "You do not belong in this war, and we still recognize your claim of neutrality. At dawn, and if the storm has passed, I expect to meet with your elders. We will negotiate terms for supplies and repairs. If anyone interferes before then, or attempts to provoke my crew again, I will assume that neutrality has been forfeited."

With that, Lin turned away from them without waiting for a response. She walked back toward the beach, feeling the exhaustion settle in. The storm still raged overhead, but it helped her cool her anger slowly. The situation had been mishandled from the start, but at least it was contained.

Behind her, the Kyoshi Warriors tended to their wounded in silence, and Lin did not look back.
​

By morning, the storm had eased into a steady drizzle, the violent winds gone and the sea reduced to a restless but manageable state. Lin stood near the shoreline as her forces assembled behind her. Despite the weather and the events of the night before, her soldiers remained disciplined, all equipped with their rifles, looking intimidating.

She allowed herself a brief moment of approval at how well they looked in such little time. Training during the voyage had paid off. They looked ready, and more importantly, they behaved as a unit; they would be a great addition to the Red Company.

The elders arrived shortly after, accompanied by much of the village. They moved cautiously as they eyed the ship and the armed line waiting near the water, but Lin doubted they would try anything, mostly because there were elderly people and children present.

Weariness marked their faces more than fear, and the children looked at the soldiers and the ship with curiosity. Lin noticed how thin many of them looked, and thought that perhaps something good could come from this exchange, probably because the storm had damaged their supplies in the end.

As the negotiations started, the villagers told them about their ongoing problems. Kyoshi Island had suffered from reduced fishing yields for months; the Unagi was both a deterrent against outsiders and a danger to their livelihood.

Their main exports were Elephant Koi fish meat, which meant that there were times when the presence of the Unagi was a huge detriment.

In exchange for fresh water drawn from their wells, Lin agreed to distribute preserved rations and medical supplies from her ship's stores. The truth was that their water reserves were low; as they had expected to arrive at Chin Village's dock three days earlier and needed it desperately.

While repairs were underway, Lin agreed to a sparring demonstration at the warriors' request. It was a noble goal to try and understand what they had done wrong at their assault. Still, that didn't mean she would make the effort to soften the lesson.

She disarmed them quickly without using her firebending, forcing them to confront the gap between old training and real combat. At one point, she pulled her knife out, but when she did, she realized that was when the last of them struggled to rise. She stepped back without comment and signaled the end with a smile on her face.

By midday, the ship was seaworthy once more, her crew having worked quickly. Lin gave the order to prepare for departure, her mind already wanting to forget about the isolated island. As the vessel pushed away from the shore, the last thing she saw was the Kyoshi warriors watching them from afar. She waved innocently, a smirk on her face.

By evening, they were already almost at Chin Village, which was when she noticed another ship anchored farther out in the bay beside the cliffside. The ornate hull and unmistakable markings left no room for doubt. It was a royal-class vessel, with its ridiculous sloop mounted at the bow.

Lin exhaled slowly, her expression tightening with despair. Of course, Princess Azula had followed her.

"Why? Why does this happen to me?"​
 
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Chapter 16 - Conquest Prelude New
AN: Hello. Sorry again for posting so late, it seems I can never do it in time these days. A big storm hit my city causing multiple power outages, so I had trouble with that. I hope you are all having a nice week. Enjoy the chapter.
​

98 A.G

Lin stepped off the gangplank and onto the packed earth of the Chin Village dock as the morning activity slowed around her. The harbor was crowded with soldiers, dockworkers, and officers trying to look busy, yet they were all taking notice of the newly promoted commander.

She had sent word ahead that she had been delayed by a day, so she was sure some were already waiting for her while others were simply doing their jobs as usual. Colonel Xin was one of those waiting. He stood near the edge of the pier with two lieutenants flanking him, his posture stiff and his expression cold.

He opened his mouth as soon as she approached, clearly ready to speak first, but Lin cut him off without a word. She fixed him with a steady stare that lasted only a few seconds, long enough to make the point unmistakable, and then looked past him entirely.

Behind her, boots struck the ground in perfect unison. What remained of the Red Company had formed up without being ordered, their lines precise and unmoving, armor polished despite months in the field.

They were the only unit present in full formation, the only one that knew their captain was back and what it meant for them. Lin felt a familiar sense of pride settle in her chest as she turned to face them.

She raised her hand, and the company snapped into a salute so sharp it drew the attention of everyone nearby. Lin returned it immediately, and then let her gaze travel across the familiar faces.

There were new scars among them; a few showed signs of fatigue, but there was no hesitation or break in formation. They had held together and she could see the hope and fire in their eyes was still there, unbroken.

"You survived eighteen months without me breathing down your necks." she said, her voice carrying easily across the assembled soldiers. "I hope you haven't gone lax on me, soldiers."

"No Ma'am!" came the response immediately in unison, and Lin allowed herself a small nod.

"I know the last campaign was poorly handled." she continued, her eyes sliding briefly toward Xin before returning to her company.

"I know decisions were made that cost lives and time that should never have been wasted. That ends now."

The village plaza beyond the docks had begun to fill as word spread, more soldiers drifting in, officers attempting to reorganize too late. Lin stepped forward, grounding her stance, and raised her voice just enough to reach beyond the Red Company.

"As of today, I am assuming full command of all Fire Nation forces in the southern theater." she said. "Under my command, we will conquer the region, and this area will become a spearhead toward ending the Earth Kingdom's control of the continent. We will move fast, we will strike with power, and we will not give the Earth Kingdom time to adapt."

She placed her hands behind her back, eying the rest of the soldiers gathering around.

"For everyone present, there will be changes; I will test everyone personally and offer leadership positions to those who deserve them."

She gestured over her shoulder, and her newly arrived division advanced several paces, with their rifles resting on their shoulders. A few of them pushed the compact cannons, already secured on reinforced wooden frames.

"These soldiers are your new riflemen and cannoneers." Lin said. "They will add a lot of firepower to our battalion's strength. They are trained specialists, and they will be treated as such."

A murmur rippled through the gathered troops, mostly curious about the new toys the Fire Nation had provided.

"Training will intensify." Lin continued. "It will be shorter, harder, and even less forgiving. We do not have the luxury of drawn-out drills this time. Our objective is simple and must be accomplished as fast as possible." Lin scanned the horizon for a moment.

"We'll drive the Earth Kingdom out of this region completely; only a few objectives are needed to accomplish this. These cities anchor the southern Earth Kingdom's presence, and we will take them all." she continued. "Once they fall, the rest of the peninsula follows. We shall conquer and expand our mighty nation through the continent as we did in the north. For the Fire Nation!"

"HURRAH!" everyone chanted in response.

She turned then, finally acknowledging the rest of the assembled officers.

"All available units are to muster in the village plaza within the hour." she ordered. "I want full reports, and I want everyone ready to begin immediately. If they answer to me, they will be there."

Her gaze found Zhou, and her tone softened just enough to carry the respect he deserved.

"Lieutenant Zhou, I'm glad to see you again." she said. "Good job keeping as many of my men alive."

The Lieutenant smiled and nodded in return. "It's good to have you back, Commander."

Only then did she glance back at Xin, her expression unreadable.

"Colonel." she said evenly, "You will submit your full operational reports directly to me by nightfall. Don't make me regret keeping you here."

Lin turned away without waiting for his response, already moving toward the plaza, the Red Company falling in behind her without being told. Whatever chaos waited within the southern front, it would now move according to her rhythm, and she intended to make every moment count.
​

Azula knew, intellectually, that following Lin to the southern front had been an impulsive decision. It had not been planned with the careful consideration she usually applied to her actions, nor had it been discussed at length with anyone beyond her father. Yet even as she acknowledged that truth, she found she did not regret it.

When she had learned that Lin was returning to the front, something in her had reacted immediately, faster than reason or pride. Still, her training and lessons had been completed, and she had been told she was ready. If that was true, then there was no better place to prove it than here, on the battlefield against the enemies of the nation.

She stood now at the edge of Chin Village's central plaza, watching as Lin addressed the gathered soldiers. Four companies had assembled under her new leadership, and thus, the 23rd Battalion was born. They stood rigidly; Fire Nation banners shifted in the light breeze, while armor and weapons caught the sun as the morning progressed.

Azula stood apart from them with her royal guards positioned behind her, their formation immaculate, as they were trained to do. They rarely saw real combat, but they were still among the best firebending masters the nation had.

Guarding palace corridors and ceremonial halls was an honor, but it was also boring, and Azula could sense their restrained eagerness as clearly as if it were her own. Being here, for them, meant that the grueling hours of simply standing there would potentially be gone.

Of course, it also meant uncertainty, danger, and the possibility of facing their death. But for a royal guard, there was honor in giving one's life for the Royal Family.

Her father had not hesitated when she asked to accompany Commander Lin. He had looked at her with that familiar, assessing gaze, and then had nodded and offered his support without complaint.

It was clear he trusted her ability, and more importantly, he trusted her ambition. The princess felt proud of having gained that trust.

As Lin continued speaking, Azula found herself studying her rather than the soldiers. The way she stood, hands behind her back, and her voice had a lot of presence. Everyone had their attention on her. All of it projected authority and respect.

Anyone could see her strength and authority in her posture. Azula felt a strange tightening in her chest as she watched. She saw how the soldiers' attention locked onto her the more she spoke. There was no question in their eyes, just obedience to that respect the commander exuded.

Azula knew how power was supposed to look; she had been trained for that as the crown princess. But the way Commander Lin commanded it to everyone present was impressive. She found herself wondering how long it would take before soldiers would look at her the same way.

She became aware, distantly, that Lin was introducing new divisions, the new weapons were being rolled into view, and murmurs of curiosity spread through the ranks. It was impressive that Lin had already gathered a full division of them, and Azula wondered how much she had to push past resistance from older generals.

Her thoughts drifted without her noticing, slipping into unfamiliar territory. As she looked at the young Commander, she couldn't help but think Lin looked quite attractive.

She had never given much thought to courtship beyond its necessity and duty to the nation. Marriage was a political tool; it would be considered for her when it served the Fire Nation. But if she could choose it, she would want someone attractive as her companion.

The lessons she had received had been a bit dull for her, but she understood the purpose behind them. After all, a good family line meant that power and strength were present in the Royal Family. They had also never spoken of possibilities that did not involve men.

Azula glanced again at her, and a rogue thought entered her mind: 'Would she be able to court Lin if she so wanted to?' It was obvious that once she was Fire Lord she could do whatever she wanted, but she would have to wait a long time until then.

'Would Lin even want to be with her?' Obviously, being married to the Crown Princess would be appealing to anyone. And she was quite beautiful after all, so why wouldn't she? Azula wasn't sure her father would approve though.

She wondered, briefly and without fully understanding why, whether Lin had ever wanted someone to stand beside her rather than behind her. She was a bit older than her, technically already of marriageable age, yet she seemed to be entirely uninterested in seeking one so far.

The thought unsettled her enough that she did not realize the speech had ended until silence settled across the plaza. Azula blinked, suddenly aware that Lin was standing directly in front of her.

Their eyes met, and for a fraction of a second Azula felt exposed, as if her wandering thoughts had been written across her face. Heat rose to her cheeks before she could stop it, irritation flaring immediately after at the loss of control of her emotions.

Without saying a word, she turned and walked away from the plaza, her steps brisk and quick as she headed back toward the harbor and the quarters of her Royal Sloop. Her guards followed without question in formation.

It was embarrassing to flee the scene, but she needed some alone time to think things through and understand what she was feeling. Still, as she disappeared from the square, she could not shake the awareness that Lin's gaze had followed her for a moment longer than necessary.
​

Lin continued issuing orders and receiving confirmations from her officers. Reports came in steadily as units finished assembling, scouts returned with preliminary assessments, and supply officers presented inventories to gather information on what they needed from the mainland.

Lin absorbed it all and started making corrections on the spot. There were some decisions made by her predecessor that made no sense, and logistics needed to change if they were going to switch to the offensive.

The most immediate danger was information. Chin Village had been compromised long before her arrival. It was clear now that sabotage had been ongoing, subtle enough to avoid open confrontation but effective in disrupting supply efforts and intel gathering. Reports of scouts being ambushed and robbed were plentiful.

Clearly their patrol routes had been leaked; maybe they had even managed to redirect their scouting parties, with their messengers intercepted before they could return with useful information. Whoever was responsible had operated with care, managing to remain in the shadows for now.

Lin had the experience behind her to recognize the pattern. Back in Korea there were many communist spies among their forces; it had caused a great deal of damage. By the looks of it, this was very organized and done by at least a dozen people, either inside Chin Village itself or in the surrounding areas controlled by the Earth Kingdom.

Qinchao in particular, stood out, a town that had surrendered quickly and without resistance, too cleanly for Lin's liking. She would have to send someone over there soon enough.

She stood over a crude map laid across a supply crate, fingers resting lightly on the charcoal markings that represented roads, watch posts, and bridges. Removing the spies would require speed and subtlety.

A blunt sweep could alert the rest and scatter them, making the problem worse rather than better. That left her with an uncomfortable but obvious solution. Lin had noticed Azula's departure immediately, after all, even if she did not turn to follow her. And since then she had wondered what to do with her.

Azula was dangerous, intelligent, and one of the most capable firebenders she knew. More importantly, she was perceptive in ways most soldiers were not. Her mind had a keen instinct to recognize weaknesses and sense traps that Lin had tried to build into their lessons.

Assigning her to frontline combat would invite disaster, both politically and personally. Keeping her isolated would be interpreted as an insult, one Azula would not forgive easily. Lin considered assigning her this task, rooting spies and keeping the information flowing between the soldiers.

The commander needed a task that was not seen as menial or weak, but at the same time did not represent a risk to the princess. It had to demand competence, and keep the princess out of direct battlefield engagement.

Espionage and counterintelligence fit in that regard, but at the same time, she did not know exactly how big this group of saboteurs was. She straightened, rolling the tension from her shoulders, and summoned a runner with a brief gesture.

"Find Princess Azula." Lin said. "Tell her I need to speak with her privately."

The runner hesitated only a fraction of a second before nodding and moving off at a jog.

Lin returned her attention to the map, already running through her head the outline of the operation. The princess would not take kindly to being assigned what she might interpret as policing work or something trivial.

Lin would have to frame it correctly, make it seem bigger or something only she could do. Maybe lie a bit and complain about how inept the ones who had supposedly tried were. Of course no one had even tried but it could work in her favor.

Azula wanted to prove herself, she had seen that in her eyes. Maybe Lin could give her the opportunity without sending her to the front lines, at least not yet.

When Azula arrived, Lin dismissed the remaining officers with a quiet wave, waiting until they were alone before speaking.

"I don't want to explain why I'm here, Commander." said the princess, scowling.

"My Princess. I didn't ask for you to explain yourself, but rather to discuss a mission I have for you, if you want to help."

That made the young royal pause, and she was quiet for a few seconds.

"Alright… tell me more about this mission, Lin." she said finally.

"There's sabotage in Chin Village. Subtle, but it is there." Lin said, ignoring the informality. "And likely in Qinchao as well. Our scouts either find nothing or they are assaulted en route. Someone is feeding information to the Earth Kingdom and keeping their movements hidden from us."

Azula's attention sharpened immediately.

"I want you to find every single one of these spies." Lin continued. "Quietly, they must be hunted down without the public knowing what is going on. I want names, routes, contacts. Who they answer to, and how far it goes."

She paused, watching the princess carefully.

"I know I cannot really order you around, but the incompetence of the people around me forces me to find someone else to do the job. I would do so myself, but if I do, I won't be able to train the battalion and get it ready to take Gaoling any time soon."

Azula smirked as usual. "So there is no one better?"

Lin held Azula's gaze steadily. She decided to voice the truth.

"No. I trust you with this."
​

Operative Fong had spent most of the past month sleeping in short stretches and waking exhausted. His mission was not advancing as much as he had hoped, so he had been forced to be aggressive. The Fire Nation did not need to win every battle if it could simply build enough ports to keep coming back stronger each time.

The Fire Nation occupation had been a nuisance at first, an outpost that could be harassed and starved, but the moment construction began near the cliffside and the supply runs started arriving with more regularity, the place had become a very dangerous base.

Qinchao followed as well, and the construction of a port at the bottom of the cliffs complicated things. With the completion of side cranes, that same port presented a real threat to the region, making the Fire Nation even harder to dislodge from the south.

So he had done what he could, breaking tools, delaying shipments between villages, paying the right people to misplace information, guiding patrols onto the wrong roads, ensuring scouts were spotted when they shouldn't, and letting the southern coalition breathe for just a little longer.

He had expected retaliation eventually. He had expected violence and fire, perhaps even a raid that burned the village to teach the locals a lesson about cooperation. He had not expected an ambush and kidnapping.

The Fire Nation soldiers had arrived before dawn, moving in coordinated groups, cutting off the paths between houses, and dragging out anyone they thought suspicious enough, even if they were just regular people.

He was caught at a very bad moment, as he was planning to sabotage one of the cranes on the side of the cliff. Before he knew it, soldiers in black and red came for him. His earthbending had been denied, as if he were a joke.

Fong had tried to bend the ground beneath their feet, but metal cuffs had closed around his arms before the motion finished, and by the time he understood what had happened, his wrists and ankles were bound tightly.

Now he sat in a storage room that had been turned into a holding cell, strapped into an uncomfortable metal chair. Chains restricted his movements, and all he could really focus on was the smell of wet wood and oil thick in the air.

A blindfold pressed against his eyes, and the damp fabric made it harder to breathe through his nose. He could hear movement outside; boots in the corridor, the faint clink of armor, and the occasional murmur of voices.

He knew he would be interrogated soon; he was ready for it. No matter the pain, he would give them nothing. When the door finally opened, the steps that entered were too light. Operative Fong tensed, and then forced himself not to speak first. Whoever it was might be trying to unsettle him, and he refused to give them that satisfaction.

A young voice broke the silence.

"Hello, insect. You are going to cooperate with me and tell me what we need to know."

He turned his head slightly toward the sound, still blindfolded, still restrained, and he let a tired irritation rise to the surface.

"You brought a child in here…" he said, not bothering to hide the contempt. "Is that what your army does now, use little girls to keep fueling this war?"

There was silence for a few seconds, then he heard the faint scrape of armor as the figure moved closer.

"Under whose orders were you operating? You are clearly not smart enough to plan ahead." the voice asked again, as calm as before. "Were you working for Gaoling, or Omashu? How many of you are there?"

Fong let out a short laugh. The child was trying to intimidate him, what a joke.

"You are wasting your time, kid." he said.

The blindfold was removed with a single tug. Light hit his eyes, and he blinked hard until his sight adjusted to it. The first thing he saw was the small girl in black and gold armor. It was shining, as if it were just polished moments ago.

Then he saw her face, young and composed, her golden eyes bright with focus, and her mouth set in a line that looked almost bored. She was clearly royalty, he realized, they had sent a royal child to interrogate him.

She watched him for a moment, and then spoke with the same even tone.

"I would ask your name, but I really don't care enough. You have already been captured. I want the names of the people you work with."

Fong held her gaze and tried to make his expression harden, even if she was royalty, she was still an inexperienced child, he could maybe frighten her until they send someone else.

"If you expect me to talk to you, little girl… You should go back to your palace." he spat.

Azula's eyes narrowed just slightly, and the change was small enough that he might have missed it if he had not been staring at her.

"I expect you to talk, yes." she replied. "It will be faster if you decide to cooperate."

She lifted her hands, pointing with two fingers on each hand, and began to move them in a circular pattern, the space filled with a sharp blue light that illuminated the small temporary cell, and a cracking sound echoed through the walls.

Fong's breath caught in surprise. Then the motion ended, and the young girl stepped close enough that he could see the faint reflection of the light in her eyes. Then she placed her fingers against his cheek.

Pain tore through him so violently that he could not form a coherent thought. It seized his muscles, forced his spine rigid against the chair, and ripped a scream out of his throat before he could swallow it back.

Yet her fingers did not leave his cheek. The cuffs bit into his wrists as his body fought the restraints and his vision blurred. Fong clenched his jaw so hard it felt like it might crack.

When the shock stopped, he sagged forward, gasping, sweat pouring down his face, his lungs struggling to remember how to draw air properly. The girl stepped back, watching him with a wide cruel smile, and in that moment, Fong wondered what evil spirit had taken the girl's form.

"You will answer eventually." she said. "You will sing to me who helped you, tell me how you passed information, and where the rest of your group is hiding. But there is still time for that, no need to rush."

Fong swallowed and tried to speak; he wanted her to know that it hadn't affected him much, but the words tangled with panic, as he watched her begin the same circular motions once more.

The second shock made his body convulse so hard the chair creaked, and the sound of his own screaming filled his ears until it became the only thing he could hear. His throat burned, his eyes watered, his muscles trembled violently as the pain ran through him again and again.

When it finally ended, he was ready to tell her anything. He had trouble speaking but he forced names out anyway, anything that surfaced, anything he could offer to stop her from touching him again.

The evil child listened without interrupting, her expression unchanged, and when he faltered, when he hesitated over a detail he could not recall quickly enough, the blue light gathered again.

"Please! No more!" he rasped, the word humiliating in his mouth. "I'll tell you everything."

The girl's gaze stayed fixed on him, calm and unmoved.

"Sure, but you could be lying." she said. "I want the truth and I have to make sure you are not hiding something important. You're going to keep talking until I'm satisfied." she said.

Fong tried to lift his head, to plead and beg for her to stop, but blue light quickly came close to his eyes again and he flinched in response. Pain traveled his body once more and he could hear the evil spirit's laugh distantly as his body thrashed violently.

When it finally stopped, she leaned closer, close enough that he could feel her breath and whispered in his ear.

"Isn't this fun?"​
 
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Rotceh said:
Yes, Azula's infatuation was profound, and now she has someone who not only encourages her most sadistic and psychopathic tendencies, but welcomes them...poor earthly kingdom
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Bumi has a tough job on his hands, but he IS the most powerful earth-bender at the moment, so don't count him out just yet. His forces though... well, I would say, they better prepare a lot now that their spies stop sending information back.
 
Lucernello said:
Bumi has a tough job on his hands, but he IS the most powerful earth-bender at the moment, so don't count him out just yet. His forces though... well, I would say, they better prepare a lot now that their spies stop sending information back.
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Yes, he's perfectly suited for a normal army... unfortunately for him... Li comes from the modern era and with it comes modern war crimes... she's perfectly capable of... I don't know... poisoning an entire city to kill him
 
Rotceh said:
Yes, he's perfectly suited for a normal army... unfortunately for him... Li comes from the modern era and with it comes modern war crimes... she's perfectly capable of... I don't know... poisoning an entire city to kill him
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Actually... that sounds pretty accurate, haha. Or detonating part of the mountain to break Omashu in half and force a surrender. So many possibilities.
 
Rotceh said:
Yes, he's perfectly suited for a normal army... unfortunately for him... Li comes from the modern era and with it comes modern war crimes... she's perfectly capable of... I don't know... poisoning an entire city to kill him
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I wouldn't say poisoning an entire city is a 'modern' war crime, people in the medieval period were pretty creative when It came to mass slaughter.

Saint Olga of Kiev comes to mind with how she requested six birds from each house in a city where her husband had been killed, instructed her army to attach a piece of sulphur bound with small pieces of cloth to each bird, and had her men set fire to the bound pieces release the birds at night fall.

The birds returned to their nests within the city, which subsequently set the city ablaze. As the people fled the City, Olga had her men capture them, killing some of them and gifting the others as slaves to her followers.

Yeah, modern war crimes have got nothing on old time war crimes. And she was LITERALLY a saint.
 
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Sir_Swagalot said:
Saint Olga of Kiev comes to mind with how she requested six birds from each house in a city where her husband had been killed, instructed her army to attach a piece of sulphur bound with small pieces of cloth to each bird, and had her men set fire to the bound pieces release the birds at night fall.

The birds returned to their nests within the city, which subsequently set the city ablaze. As the people fled the City, Olga had her men capture them, killing some of them and gifting the others as slaves to her followers.
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Wow, that's so cool and smart. Although kind of strange for the birds to carry fire into their nests, I wonder how much of that is embellished and how much is fact. Still, you are right that war crimes were not even considered crimes in old times. So I'm sure there were plenty of creative evil people out there. Lin comes from a society that had recently went through the Bodo League massacre though, which was brutal. I'm sure she won't shy away from anything after being part of that.
 
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Chapter 17 - Embers in the Sky New
AN: I cannot believe this. I finally managed to post on a Friday as I wanted to all this time. Hooray! I hope you have a lovely weekend, friends.

Luce
​

98 A.G

Lieutenant Kaida leaned against the wooden railing overlooking the training grounds, arms folded loosely as she watched soldiers cycle through drills below. The noise was familiar and comforting: steel on steel and boots on packed earth. Beside her, the recently promoted Captain Aiku rested one elbow on the railing, his posture relaxed in a confident way.

"She really is something." Aiku said at last, eyes following a line of riflemen moving into position. "Everyone respects her now, and there is no doubt that she deserves the position of Commander of the entire southern theater."

Kaida allowed herself a small smile. "Yes, the battalion is looking mighty quite quickly under her leadership. I never doubted this would be the outcome, though."

Aiku huffed softly. "True. Colonel Xin nearly choked when she stepped off the ship. I thought he was going to start babbling instead of actually talking."

"Yeah, it was beautiful to see." Kaida replied, amusement creeping into her voice. "I almost felt bad for him."

"Almost…" Aiku echoed, shaking his head. "Did you hear about Kyoshi Island?"

Kaida turned slightly, interest sharpening. "I heard rumors. Something about a storm and an Unagi."

"Yes, but they are no longer rumors." Aiku said. "One of the rifle officers finally talked to me last night. Said the ship nearly ran aground as a storm tore the sea apart, and then that thing surfaced right in front of them."

Kaida exhaled slowly. "They say she faced it."

"Yes. She did." Aiku replied. "He told me she jumped from the watchtower into the rain, blasted the thing in the eyes, and forced it to retreat. Saved the ship and the entire crew."

Kaida closed her eyes briefly, imagining it, Lin standing against the creature, braving the storm. "Of course she did."

"Then she steered the ship to a safe position." Aiku continued. "After that, they made landfall on Kyoshi Island."

Kaida frowned. "I must admit I don't know much about the island besides that they worship the late Avatar as if it were Agni for us."

"Well, there's not much more to note, yes." Aiku agreed. "Lin handled the negotiations expertly, apparently, receiving water they needed after they told them about dealing with the sea monster."

Kaida laughed quietly. "She turned a storm, a sea creature hunt, and a diplomatic incident into a resupply stop."

Aiku glanced at the cannons being wheeled into place nearby.

"These new weapons are also her doing. I have never seen firepower like this, ever. It's scary-dangerous and more destructive than siege engines. The best part is, they say the weapons came out of her mind."

"They also say she built most of it herself." Kaida said. "Most of her time was spent bringing these weapons to life whenever she wasn't teaching the young royal."

"Ain't that a surprise as well? The princess is now here." Aiku added, lowering his voice slightly. "Did you see her during the plaza speech?"

Kaida nodded. "Hard not to. She was watching Lin like the rest of us."

"I see that look in many of us nowadays." Aiku said, grinning.

"Hard not to." Kaida smiled as well.

"That's the same look of admiration we all have when we understand her greatness." he replied. "Like you suddenly realize the world makes sense if you just follow her lead."

Kaida glanced back toward the plaza, where Lin was still moving among officers, issuing orders quietly. "To draw that reaction from a royal princess, she truly is inspiring." she said softly. "She is supposed to be a prodigy as well, and hard to impress."

Aiku straightened, excitement flickering across his face. "If half of what she's planning comes true, this campaign is going to change everything. I wouldn't miss it for anything in the world. I'm sure it's the same for the princess."

Kaida nodded, her gaze steady. "It's great to be alive in a time like this, I'm glad to be here."

"Well, I'd better go back to work, she needs our best as well."
​

Lin was impressed by the speed Azula had accomplished the task. She was reading the reports, standing alone in the temporary command office, as the late afternoon light filtered through the shutters and traced slow lines across the maps spread over the table.

The information was thorough; names, routes, schedules, methods of communication, and even patterns of behavior that explained how the sabotage had gone unnoticed for as long as it had. It continued to detail more in-depth about their movements, organization, and future plans.

It was the kind of intel Lin was used to seeing after weeks of careful counterintelligence work, not after a handful of days. She was amazed at how well the princess had taken to her mission. Having her work so diligently would be a great asset.

She exhaled slowly and set the last page down, pressing her fingertips flat against the table. She could use this advantage now, maybe even make Azula a spy, or an infiltrator. It was risky but she wouldn't be on the battlefield at least.

Because the princess had acted so quickly, the remaining sympathizers, if any, would hide and not show themselves or even go back to Gaoling. The capture of twenty people was not going to go unnoticed on their end. But at the same time, her troops were not yet ready to advance.

Lin folded the reports and placed them aside, already reorganizing her plans around the new information. With the leaks sealed, supply lines could be reinforced and scouting operations resumed properly. Gaoling would be blind to their movements for some time, and she was sure that they would focus on defense and shut themselves in.

Strategically, it was good though, as the longer they delayed until they were ready, the defenders' reaction time would either grow lax with boredom or they would be more anxious. Both were good outcomes, so for now, she would focus on training her men and not letting information reach the Earth Kingdom's city.

She stepped outside once she was done with her planning. She took a deep breath of the cold air and watched the training fields. Drills echoed from the open ground, rifle reports punctuating shouted commands as the new division trained alongside the veterans of the Red Company.

The integration was going smoother than she expected. It seems that when everyone is pushed equally hard, a sense of camaraderie spreads faster among her men. She had to promote a few of her more trusted officers to help with the training now that she had five hundred men under her command.

The company had lost a few of its best. Among them, Lieutenant Ruze, alongside sergeants Katsu and Nari, and seven corporals under their command had been killed by King Bumi, buried alive under tons of rock and soil. It was a terrible loss in her eyes. But it had also gained a lot of new faces and among them, some talented firebenders.

She stared down to the courtyard where Captain Zhou oversaw a sparring exercise, his men were placed in pairs fighting one another, while Captain Aiku was giving a lesson in close-quarters fighting nearby. The battalion would be ready faster than she anticipated.

Lin allowed herself a moment of satisfaction before turning back inside. There was still too much to do to linger.

She found Azula later, seated alone inside her temporary office in the village's plaza. She was writing something on one of the multiple desks Lin had placed inside. The princess sat with her back straight, her focus entirely on whatever she was working on.

Lin approached without announcing herself, stopping a few steps away.

"You did well, my princess." she said simply.

Azula jumped a bit, startled and quickly hid the parchment she was writing on. Lin found it odd, but she could accept the Royal family keeping a few secrets. When the princess did turn around, her expression was composed, almost neutral, though Lin could see the faint tension beneath it.

"Thank you." Azula replied. "I completed the mission, as requested." she said while turning the chair toward her and sitting again.

Lin nodded, moving one of the other chairs to sit in front of her.

"You exceeded my expectations. The information you gathered will shorten this campaign significantly, and dismantling their network was crucial." she said.

A flicker of satisfaction crossed Azula's face, quick and carefully contained.

"I assume you will move against Gaoling soon." she said.

"Yes, we will." Lin answered. "Within the next three weeks, if preparations continue at this pace. So you might have some rest for now until we make our moves."

"I see…"

They stood in silence for a moment, the sound of training drifting toward them in the wind. As Lin turned to leave, she paused, considering whether she should give her the next mission so soon or let her rest, then finally deciding she shouldn't coddle her.

"There is something else. Another mission I'm planning to make you the head of." Lin added. "You've earned my trust over this."

Azula studied her for a moment, her wide smile betraying her face.

"Again…" she said. "This is not an order, so you can refuse if you want."

Azula's brow lifted faintly. "Go on."

"I'm planning to advance on Gaoling in stages." Lin continued. "I'll need accurate intelligence from inside the city once we begin. I hope you can continue to assist me, I need a spy network inside the city. It's an infiltration mission, one you have demonstrated you would do well."

Azula's lips pressed together, then curved into the slightest smile. "Tell me more."

"You will be assigned eight of my men under you to support you, infiltrate the city and build an information-gathering network and report back. It will be dangerous but I will have my unit ready in case we need to mount a rescue operation."

The princess regarded her for a long moment, then rose smoothly to her feet.

"It actually sounds kind of fun." Azula said, "I'll accept your mission."

Lin rose as well. "I'm glad to hear that, my princess. I will let you know once I've gathered the ones who will go with you, and also when we discuss the best way to get inside the city. For now, get some rest."

Azula nodded and exited her office. Lin watched her walk back toward the docks, the guards falling into step behind her.

She returned to her maps, carefully placed in the center of the room with renewed focus. The pieces were finally aligning, the battalion was nearly ready, and the southern campaign would soon move from preparation to execution. With the spies eliminated and morale rising, Gaoling would be the first true test of her new command.

Lin straightened, rolled her shoulders, and began issuing orders for the night. Now she needed to come up with a good plan to infiltrate the city. As she was reviewing her options, a firehawk burst into the room through her window carrying one of the largest packages she had ever seen one of those birds carry.

Carefully, she unsealed the tube that was brought to her, unfolding the multiple sheets of paper inside. She grinned widely. The latest schematics sent by Minister Qin had arrived.

It was time to give the princess wings.
​

Azula had waited four days until Lin told her how they were going to get into the city, and every single one of them had tested her patience.

She stood near the edge of the improvised launch field overlooking the cliffs, boots planted firmly in the packed earth, eyes fixed on the strange vehicle resting on its supports. It looked fragile at first glance, thin metal frame reinforced with ribs, wide wings folded at a slight upward angle, cloth stretched taut.

It did not resemble any war machine she had ever seen before, nor anything taught at the academy. Lin stood beside it, hands checking the frame and different straps it had for passengers. Then she checked the wheels, a new special one made out of rubber, a novelty discovered very recently.

"This will be a gliding flight." Lin said calmly, anticipating the question before Azula could voice it. "We won't be firebending and flying just yet."

Azula's lips curved faintly. "I'm listening."

Lin gestured for her to step closer. "The principle is simple. Lift is achieved through movement, speed, and surface area, so we don't need to sustain thrust as long as we have momentum. This saves chi and firebending is only used to reach an initial speed and to correct trajectory when necessary."

Azula circled the vehicle slowly, eyes sharp as she took in every detail. "So the one in the back does all the work."

"Yes, exactly. For now at least." Lin replied. "Lieutenant Toma will be providing propulsion for this test. The only thing sticking out of the glider will be his boots so that he can give us that speed, he just needs to give us enough to lift and then control bursts to keep the glider up."

Azula glanced toward Toma, who stood nearby already securing himself into the rear harness. He looked focused, and it seemed he had no fear of the responsibility being placed on him. She liked that.

"The rest of us are passengers then?" Azula asked.

Lin nodded. "Observers, primarily. You will be in the forward position. That seat has no controls like the rear or middle seats. In the future we could have it placed differently so that a firebender can attack from there but for now, it's just transport."

Azula raised an eyebrow. "So we are going to test flying today?"

Lin picked up a compact pack from a nearby crate and handed it to her. "No, we are testing dropping today. We tested the glider yesterday. This is a parachute, it is a carefully put-together piece of cloth that will stop your fall and glide you to the ground using the air currents that get trapped in it to slowly descend. Your team will be using it to infiltrate Gaoling without using firebending which could be seen from below."

Azula took the pack, turning it over in her hands. The weight was unfamiliar, and the material stiff but well crafted. "Sounds a bit mad to trust in a piece of cloth, to be honest."

"True, but that is why we are testing it now, if something fails we use firebending to stop." Lin answered evenly. "This deploys manually, we had a version that was not packed but it gets tangled with the glider parts and it is dangerous. So thanks to my engineers we managed to pack it tight, you just pull this handle and the cloth unfolds. For the first time I will be jumping with you, strapping to you midair, and then deploying mine, so that you learn how to use it by seeing me."

"And if it doesn't deploy?" Azula pressed.

"Then we fall and rely on firebending." Lin said. "Into the sea, preferably. Which is why we launch toward the water."

Azula smiled, sharp and eager. "I like it already."

Lin watched her closely. "Are you excited?"

"Of course I am." Azula replied. "Who wouldn't like to fly as high as you say this thing goes?"

"One more thing." Lin said, and then handed her a piece of leather with glass on it. "These are googles, you put them over your head and wear them over your eyes to shield you from the wind hitting your face."

Azula carefully placed them over her head as Lin did then climbed in. Lin allowed herself the smallest hint of amusement. "They look nice. Strap in."

They took their positions quickly. Toma secured himself in the rear harness, boots locked into the frame. Lin climbed into the central seat, adjusting the steering stick and testing the tension on the wing flaps. Azula settled into the forward position, the parachute pack secured tightly against her back.

"I will tell you when we jump."

Azula nodded, eyes forward, heart already beating faster.

At Lin's signal, Lieutenant Toma began firebending, flames flared from his boots in a controlled stream, and the glider rolled forward across the grass, picking up speed as the wheels turned faster. The edge of the cliff rushed closer, far faster than Azula had expected.

For a moment, instinct screamed at her that she needed to firebend to safety, then Lin pulled back on the steering stick and the glider lifted upwards, leaving the ground behind.

The sensation was unlike anything Azula had experienced. In contrast with firebending flight, this was a smooth, unnatural release as the ground fell away beneath them. As they picked up more speed, the wind tore past her face, cold and sharp, stealing her breath. Her heartbeats were drowned by the loud sound of the wind.

As the princess looked down she gasped. They truly were airborne, higher than she had ever been. Azula laughed, the sound torn away by the wind as the glider climbed higher, the sea stretching endlessly below them.

"We are gliding." Lin called over the wind. "Lieutenant, you can focus on managing your chi now."

The flames behind them vanished, and still they remained aloft. Azula stared down, eyes wide despite herself. The air was thin and cold, and her hands trembled in exhilaration.

"Truly a wonder." she mused.

Lin glanced at her briefly. "Princess, prepare to jump!" she shouted.

They banked slowly, circling above the coastline, then turned toward the distant shape of the royal sloop waiting below. The glider responded to every adjustment smoothly and obediently.

"Ready?" Lin said suddenly.

Azula did not hesitate. "Yes!"

Lin gave Toma a final signal, then rose from her seat in one fluid motion and leapt. Azula followed without thinking, jumping off the glider.

Wind roared past her ears as gravity took hold, her stomach lurching as the sea rushed up to meet her. For a split second she considered firebending, but before she could act, Lin was there, arms wrapping around her from behind.

A sharp click sounded as their harnesses locked together, and she could feel Lin's embrace tighten. Then the parachute deployed and the sudden resistance yanked them upward. The fall was arrested violently enough to jolt the air from Azula's lungs. The cloth billowed above them, catching the wind, and the descent slowed into a controlled glide.

They drifted down for a few minutes toward the deck of the ship, crew members already rushing to receive them. When their boots touched solid ground, Azula barely waited for assistance before turning and throwing her arms around Lin, laughing openly, breathless and wild.

"Let's go again!"
​

After several days of coordinated movement, the infiltration network inside Gaoling was finally in place. Princess Azula and seven of her most trusted men had entered the city under cover of night, descending silently beyond the walls and dispersing before dawn.

The limited number of gliders had forced them to make two separate drops, a delay Lin had accepted reluctantly, as building additional units would have required more time they didn't have if they wanted a swift victory in the south.

There were no signs that their arrival had been noticed. Once inside, Azula's group adopted new identities, wearing stolen clothing taken from outer districts and markets. Within a short span of time, the first reports reached Lin.

The picture they painted of Gaoling was not reassuring for the Earth Kingdom. Defensive structures existed largely for show, manned unevenly and uncoordinated. Scouts rarely ventured out and supplies moved through the city with minimal oversight. Authority appeared fractured, divided between local elites and lower district enforcers.

The extent of corruption was promising. Bribery was common which made inspections inconsistent, and loyalty easily purchased. The divide between the upper class and the lower quarters was bad enough that morale for most guards was very low.

For Lin, these were clear opportunities. Gaoling was a city that had not been touched by war yet, and they had a false sense of security. She began planning an invasion of the city with that in mind.

The next day, another report drew her full attention. Azula's team had received information suggesting the presence of a Fire Nation soldier operating within the city. He was neither a prisoner nor hiding, and common rabble spoke about having seen him fight in a tournament.

An individual who had managed to secure a place for himself without attracting suspicion, meant it could be a deserter who was feeding the enemy information. In Lin's eyes a deserter was worse than having spies roam her base.

A deserter carried knowledge, understanding Fire Nation doctrine and its logistics. If such a person had avoided arrest within Gaoling, then he was either competent enough to remain useful or protected enough to be tolerated.

Either case demanded Lin silence him one way or another. Capturing him would require more manpower. If he had embedded himself successfully, then a clumsy attempt would only drive him deeper into hiding or alert those shielding him.

Lin set the report aside and reached her decision, she would have to go personally and make sure it's handled carefully.

She issued a few orders quickly to both Captain Zhou and Colonel Xin, who were to maintain oversight of all ongoing preparations, continuing drills, logistics, and weapon deployment as planned.

With that secured, Lin had Lieutenant Toma prepare the glider to drop her close while she went back to her boat to replace her prosthetics, she had some made for stealth missions but never had to use them yet.

She hoped that would make it harder for anyone to recognize her. Maybe she could dye her hair black as well.
​

The Earth Rumble arena was louder than Azula expected. It was an underground facility, with a fighting platform in the middle surrounded by rows of audience seats, packed with bodies and noise. The air was thick with dust and sweat, and the constant vibration of shouting voices.

The princess sat among them without standing out, dressed in muted green like the rest of the infiltration group, her posture loose enough to pass as ordinary, as no one was really paying attention to them.

Lin sat beside her, altered quite a bit. The commander's armor had been replaced with dull cloth and green tones, her prosthetics stripped of their spikes and polished metal, stained in black. She had dyed her hair as well. Who would have thought something they only used on clothing could be used on hair.

If Azula had not known her well, she might have missed her entirely, which only reinforced how good the disguise truly was.

"Welcome to Earth Rumble four!" an announcer began. "I am your host, Xing Fu. The rules are simple: Just get the other guy out of the ring and you win!"

"For our first match we have, The Gecko vs The Big. Bad. Hippo!"

Azula watched with open boredom as both earthbenders clashed, one relying on brute force and his obese body to shake the platform of the ring, the other masked one, clumsily trying to stay inside, throwing rocks occasionally to the fat man. They did nothing of course and the outcome was quite obvious.

The crowd cheered loudly when the weaker man was thrown from the platform and Azula rolled her eyes in annoyance. The second match held slightly more interest though.

The fighter called Head Hunter used prepared terrain and a suspended rope that was clearly placed there beforehand, to his advantage, landing heavily on the platform and throwing the obese man off the ring.

Then, finally, the supposed Fire Nation challenger entered the ring to fight versus Head Hunter. As soon as Azula glanced in his direction she knew this was not a Fire Nation soldier. The disguise was crude, the emblem on his belt was wrong, and the way he moved betrayed him immediately.

He even tried to sing the national anthem of the Fire Nation but it was clearly wrong and he didn't know the lyrics. The crowd erupted in laughter and cheers as Head Hunter dispatched him with ease.

Azula felt irritation coil tightly in her chest at having been drawn into this deception. This was clearly just an Earth Kingdom entertainer, used for show to put the enemy of the Earth Kingdom in a humiliating position.

She kept her gaze forward, unwilling to look at Lin just yet, though the embarrassment burned sharply beneath her composure. She shouldn't have reported it immediately and investigated it more throughout.

Still, Lin didn't react as badly as she had expected. The commander joined the applause, unhurried and calm, while her expression remained unchanged. There was no sign of frustration or disappointment, which eased her worries.

"I'm glad it was a false lead, it means we can rest easy knowing no one revealed our strategies to anyone." Lin said.

Azula nodded, and was about to respond when the announcer called for the final match.

"And now, the moment you were all waiting for. Head Hunter versus your champion. The blind bandit!"

The champion stepped onto the platform, a young girl, probably around ten or eleven years old, with unfocused eyes and an unassuming stance, her confidence evident in the way she stood still while the crowd roared around her.

"I don't think I want to fight a little girl." Head Hunter said.

"I think you are just a little chicken." answered the blind girl, successfully taunting him.

"Nobody calls me a chicken!" he roared.

The fight that followed lasted only moments. As soon as Head Hunter tried again to lift himself to the rope from the ceiling, the ring swallowed him and promptly spat him outside the ring. In a swift move, the young girl had won in the blink of an eye.

Azula leaned forward despite herself, her interest fully captured now. She was used to beating everyone around her, that is until Lin came along, so this probably was a prodigy as well, albeit an earthbender one.

As the crowd shouted for more, Xin Fu descended from the center pillar.

"To make things a little more interesting, I'm offering up this sack of gold pieces to anyone who can defeat the blind bandit!" he chanted.

"Any takers? Nobody?" he continued to ask.

Lin rose from her seat, her movement smooth and deliberate, drawing confused murmurs from those nearby and Azula looked at her, perplexed.

"Are non-benders allowed to fight?" Lin asked calmly.

"Of course! If you think you can. Ha ha ha." answered Xin Fu.

Lin quickly descended from the steps and jumped to the ring, landing heavily. Her metal legs rang, hidden below her clothes.

"We have a match then!" said the announcer, pushing earth upward, and ascending back to the pillar.

With her hands behind her back, Lin walked toward the center of the ring, facing the young girl.

"Alright, mystery lady. Let's see if you can last longer than three seconds." said the blind bandit.​
 
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